>>>You seem to think that "it would damage the US economy" means that::- etc<<<
Not so Ben, I stated quite clearly what I think and meant, but just to help you understand better I will enlarge a bit.. I think that the car industry and the oil companies rely on sales of their huge vehicles to make their businesses so profitable.. So it's not in their interest to have sales of small vehicles using much less fuel becoming popular in the USA.. Low gas prices help the car companies in that respect.. I.E. You don't really need to cut back on fuel usage as it's so cheap.. So the two Industries work hand in hand on those issue as it makes economic sense from their standpoint..
E.G. My diesels uses half the fuel of a petrol car, so I buy half as much fuel as I did in the past, Magnify that by several million cars and both the oil Co's and the makers of any large vehicles are in big financial trouble.. That's not "what I seem to think" that's what I believe to be the facts of the matter..
On Bush,, hmm ok.. I think most people here (UK) share my opinion, and that is.. We were glad that Blair chose to support the US over Iraq, not because we approve of the Bush admin (because we don't).. But because the people doing the fighting and dying over there are American servicemen, and we were not prepared to sit back and watch that happen, we LIKE the American people and are only to willing to help them if we can, If GW Bush had gone to do the fighting himself in person, then maybe we would just have sold tickets instead!! lmho.. (jk)
Unfortunately the situation that arose soon after the Iraq war started, re the miss-information stuff, has made Blair rather unpopular, I personally believe he acted in good faith based on the information he had, sadly some people doubt that, and it has given his opponents a lot of ammunition with which to score political points off him, and that's a shame because he has done a good job while in office..
Back to the point.. >>>Damaging the economy means that low income folks suddenly don't have enough money to feed:- etc <<<<<
Yes it does in our world, but bear in mind we (you, I, the people) did not pay to get Bush elected to office!! His election campaign was financed to the tune of millions$$$ by the big Business conglomerates who wanted a president they could influence.. And Bush made pre-election promises to those people!! If I recall correctly, one such promise was to pursue the "Star Wars" programme, but the American people stopped that one dead in its tracks!! So Bush would have had to do his paymasters other favours instead? dunno quite what though, your guess is as good as mine.. hmmm.. lol..
The same thing happens here, but in our case political candidates get "loans" that they never have to pay back, and the lenders usually end up on the Honours list and get to sit in the house of Lords and help make the Laws in the UK!! good innit!!
Off topic bit:-- But of interest I hope...
Did you know that when the battle of Agincourt was over, and our archers had killed most of Frances finest Knights, (and our royal rulers had gathered up all the loot!) that the English soldiers were paid off and left to rot in France? thousands died of hunger, some most I think. ended up as mercenaries for the warring factions in Italy..
Or that after defeating the Spanish Armada, the British fleet was kept at sea for almost a year to avoid having to pay them their wages?
The "Royals" here knew that many of them would die at sea from various diseases, and indeed 70% of them did die, wages unpaid!..
So forgive me if I am rather distrustful of our "Royals" and self named "Landed gentry" ....
I like to think that things are a bit better now that we have an elected Parliament, but I can't be certain!! We still have a house of so-called Lords!..
The British people are, by and large, very nice People... But... Historically,, our "Royal Family" are the biggest bunch of thieves, liars, and murderers on the planet.. That's a proven fact!.. I think Guy Fawkes had the right idea!! lol..
In the real world we have to listen to what we are being told, but think about it carefully, and about who is doing the telling, and why they are saying it, then decide for ourselves where the truth lies if we can.. If not, file it away under "pending more information" till later..
and that's a shame because he has done a good job while in office.. 
So Bush would have had to do his paymasters other favours instead? dunno quite what though, your guess is as good as mine.. hmmm.. lol.. 
